Comparison shopping: Provide information so that shoppers can compare by price and feature.

Local business announcements: Announce coupons, deals, and special offers, for example.

Customer service improvements: For example, you can let customers make reservations or find out when an order is ready for pick-up.

Event publicity: Consider providing real-time logistical information.

Integration of mobile marketing and social media: Post updates on-the-fly and use geolocation services such as Foursquare.

Payments accepted by mobile phone: Customers can pay with their mobile device at the moment they’re ready to buy.

Leads you collect by offering a product or service in return: You can offer a free app or an estimate, for example.

Don’t let the obvious B2C value of mobile devices fool you: Mobile marketing has a place in B2B strategies as well. Some of the earliest adopters of new technology are businesses seeking improved productivity or a competitive edge. In fact, more than 49 percent of small businesses already use smartphones.

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